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Hello Fellow Sleevers! Feeling good this morning! Stepped on the scaled and I'm down 3 more pounds! Fist pumps! One thing I don't do is continuously weigh myself. That would drive me crazy because as I have found out, even though it's early, my body likes to retain water if I eat the slightest thing salty. Hence seeing three pounds creep back on me the first week I was on creamed chicken soup. I'm was pissed and annoyed to see that because the purpose of the surgery is to lose, not gain. Of course after I exploded on my dietitian, she casually said it was because of the cream of chicken soup being salty. I think a clue for 100 Alex would have been better, it should have been discussed in the beginning when we started that stage that some things may or may not make you retain water and also constipate you since you wouldn't being eating a lot of fiber. You can't get all that water down that they ask you to do in the beginning. Realistically it's just not possible, but you work towards trying. Fast forward to this morning, me jumping on the scale and seeing the 3 pounds lost. I still haven't incorporated daily exercise into my life. I know I have too. I enjoy walking and have done it a couple of times but not with consistency. That's the next phase I have to ease into... Well, that's my exciting news for today. I am really happy about that! Continued success to all whom are traveling on this journey. Blessings, MzO

One of the things that contributed to my stress about this surgery was not knowing what was going to happen. (What can I say, I'm a control freak.) So here is the play-by-play as it pertains to me of my surgery. Your mileage may vary! I'll try to come back and update it. Hopefully it'll be of use to someone—"and knowing is half the battle." Day before surgery Liquid-only diet; two bowls of phở broth, some Protein2O, apple juice, and sugar-free lemon jello. Got about 830 calories in. Had to take a shower with a special CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) anti-septic body wash. It made my skin a bit "slippery". Packed my bag with my CPAP hose, a book, a spare shirt, some chanclas for walking, my cell phone charger, and my reading glasses. Put out the two pills I was supposed to take (no losartan because it interferes with anesthesia). Day of surgery Took another shower with CHG as required. Reported to the hospital at 0630 as requested. Was checked in and taken to pre-surgery holding. My fiancé was allowed to go with me as an exception, because I'm hard of hearing and rely on lip-reading which is impossible with so many masks and partitions in the way. A surgical RN came and told me to wipe my abdomen with CHG wipes, then put on my surgical gown (which was HUGE on me—I understand I'm a bariatric patient but I literally couldn't keep it on my shoulders). Then he put an IV in the back of my hand, took my vitals (I lost 10 lbs in the two weeks between my surgeon's consultation and surgery day), went through all my medications, put an anti-nausea patch behind my ear, and gave me a blood thinner in my IV. My surgeon came in and asked if I was ready, went over a few things, then went to scrub up. My anesthesiologist came in and asked if I had had anesthesia before (yes), and if I had any questions. I asked him to give me a TAP block at the end of surgery, which is a localized nerve block, like an epidural for your abdomen. It lasts 12-18 hours. I was whisked away and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, where I was given cognitive tests (what is your name, what hospital are you at, who's the president, etc.) and given ice chips. Once that all proved satisfactory, I was wheeled to my room. I don't remember it, because I fell asleep. Once in the room they put leg compression stockings on me and gave me water, Crystal Light made way too sweet, chicken broth that tasted like a salt lick, and a thicker vegetable purée soup. I couldn't get the vegetable soup down. I forced the chicken broth, Crystal Light, and water. I felt very, very hungry and it was frustrating not to be able to just eat something. I took 3 or 4 laps of the surgical unit floor in my fetching anti-slip socks, and kept falling asleep. The pain from the gas was pretty bad and I spent a good 30 minutes just burping, much to the chagrin of the man in the other bed in the room (though he was moaning so he doesn't get to say anything). Around 1730 the nurse came in, saw that I had drunk what I could and had peed sufficiently (you pee into a graduated container), and that I could walk. She asked my surgeon's permission to discharge me, and I was in the wheelchair going out the door at 1830, exactly 12 hours after I arrived. When we got home, I pretty much washed my hands and face and went straight to bed. I got up probably every 2 hours or so, would have a couple of sips of protein shake or water, along with Gas-X (simethicone) or, as needed, Tylenol. I did get about 7 hours of sleep, in various chunks. I was able to lie, carefully, on my side, which is how I prefer to sleep. My CPAP did increase the gas pressure inside a bit but it was tolerable. Day 1 post-op My first bout of the 'foamies'. I tried to drink a CorePower protein milk way too fast and spent an hour and a half wandering around whimpering. It was actively painful and it felt enough like I needed to vomit that I had a lined bucket at the ready. Eventually, though, it subsided. Gas pain is still here and very real, but better. We went for a walk which absolutely tired me out—and it was barely 500 meters! Right now I am using the timer on my cell phone to remind me to drink 1/3 oz. of fluid every 5 minutes, and I feel full but it's manageable. I am alternating full ounces of regular water and protein water. I also made some Jell-O with extra protein powder but the thought of eating it leaves me cold. If I can get these bottles down plus the shake I had earlier, I'll be pretty close to 48 oz. of fluid which is my surgeon's requirement for the first week (bumps up to 64 oz. after that) and 41 g of protein which will have to do for the first day unless I manage to get some of the Jell-O down me. I have been taking Tylenol, Gas-X, and my ondansetron—the nausea is there but it's in the background, like when you step off a ship onto land at the end of a cruise. I haven't had enough pain to necessitate anything stronger than Extra Strength Tylenol. My incisions are clean (I took a shower).

Well back in July 2012 I was having a hard time swallowing and food keep getting stuck in my throat. I went to see my primary doct and he said that I thrush and proscribed me meds to correct the problem. Well after taken the meds I didnt see any improvement, so them I went to see my lapband doct. He removed all the fluids from my band and put me on a liquid diet for a few days. After day 2 started soft foods, but I still had the same problem, so I went back to my lapband doct and he did another barium test. He didnt see any problem and everthing was okay. I waited 2 more day on liquid and tried again with no luck. He scheduled me for a EGD which showed that the band had so much scare tissue that is had not much of an opening for food to go thru and that I had also developed Esophageal Dysmobility and the only way to correct it is to remove the band. After much research, I have decided to remove the band and get a gastric sleeve revision. We submitted the paperwork for insurance approval and crossed our fingers (my insurance is very picky and we have a 1 WLS per life time). We I got the approve last week from my doct and I go to surgery November 1st. Please keep me in your prayers and on your minds as I head to my next course of my weight loss journey. I cant wait to get this over with, Ive been on and liquid diet since July and cant keep most if not all foods down and sometimes I cant keep protein drinks down also. I WILL ALWAYS BE A BANDSTER FOR LIFE.

Congrats on the weight loss! That is great! I was banded three months before you and you have passed me on weight loss. I, too, have recently found myself wanting to "stress eat". It is difficult some days but we have to find some other way to deal with our stress. I have found that keeping my food journal in lapband.com helps me a lot. Journaling doesn't work for everyone, but it keeps me honest with myself. I don't think I REALLY realized how much I ate in response to my emotions before surgery, but now that I can't eat as much, I think about food a lot. I don't have a lot of answers for you but I share in the struggle.

Your internal staple line is not healed at four weeks. Your stomache internally takes 6 to 8 weeks to resolve swelling and irritation. Leaks are found as far out as three months. As general guide is three months, I say general because we all heal at different rates.

My doc said at 3 weeks you're pretty much out of the woods.

Hi I was sleeved on the 16th may, but just in the past few weeks every time I drink water I get acid reflux and its driving me crazy as I thought water would be alright!!! I cannot stomach tea as it makes me sick and I'm not a big coffee person. I do drink dilute but with this heat wave the UK is having I really need water! Can anyone advise me on what I can do? Oh and does anyone else have mad cravings for ice? Lol I've suddenly gone mad for ice after having surgery x

Well, the surgery was on Friday and it's Sunday now. Still a bit sore but feeling better than I did yesterday. The liquid diet thing is getting old already. Although the protein whey shake wasn't too bad. I got this strawberry powder one you just mix with water or whatever. Wasn't too bad really. Something different. You get sick of just eating broth and jello. I can't wait until the end of the week when I can go on soft foods like eggs and maybe hot cereals like cream of wheat or farina. Took the bandages off today and my skin is really irritated around the incisions where they were. Walked for a while today around the neighborhood. I'm trying to get out there for at least 30 minutes every day. I'm just happy these two days are almost gone because hopefully the worst of the soreness is over. I know I'll still be somewhat sore for the next few weeks but this really hurt the past two days. I'm off the percocet and just taking a tylenol here and there now. Hard thing so far is eating slower even with jello. I feel hungry so I'm eating it way too fast and later on I feel like there's a lump just sitting there in the pit of my stomach. So I've really got to work on that especially since I'm going to regular food soon. The weird thing is gauging whether or not you're really hungry or you THINK you're hungry. The mind is still telling me "EAT! You're HUNGRY moron, why are you not going upstairs and grabbing a snack?" The commercial on TV for Chili's new burgers didn't help. I sat there like Pavlov's dog and salivated so much I needed a shamwow towel to clean up the mess. Good news by the way. I just came back to writing this after visiting the little boys room and I'm proud to report I had my first bowel movement after two days. I haven't felt such joy since I watched a "Facts of life" marathon on TV Land. I'm just wondering what advice Mrs. Garrett would have had for me about this, what with her down home folksy good humor and wisdom beyond her 68 years. Ok. That's about it for now. I'll write again soon.

Three weeks is the high risk period. Stomach is completely healed after four weeks.

I really need the same help here! Miralax was so vile to me I could barely gag it down. I got Milk of Magnesia, which worked the first time, but not after that. Maybe I need to up the dose? I swear I only have a 'movement' maybe once a week, and that's while i'm taking daily Dulcolax gel and Benefiber. My doc said to get a psyllium husk version - but I literally couldn't drink the whole thing with my sleeve. Maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of it at best. Aurgh!! At the RN's suggestion I tried probiotics and they did nothing for me, so after two weeks i quit them.

Yes!... 25lbs. .is amazing. .I'm 5 mos post op and I can have salads..fish..chicken..1 tortilla. .whole wheat slice of bread...remember food is food right now your new stomach can only tolerate soft foods but its helping you keep well nourished. .be patient. .imagine trying to lose 25 lbs in 2 weeks eating what you are eating now without surgery...you will be fine!

probiotics were not for me...I ended up with dry-mouth etc...but I just use Miralax a few times a week and that works fine for me... good luck

I also had a hematoma. It caused old blood to come out of the corner of my port incision. The doctor kept an eye on it and had me on antibiotics for several days until it was no longer draining. I was freaked out. Due to this, I had excessive bruising in the port area that lasted a long time. My doctor could still feel quite a bit of fluid around the port when I got my first fill (about 6 weeks post-op), but was still able to do it right in the office. Needless to say, it has gotten better, and I havn't had any other issues. Just keep an eye on it and give it time. I'm sure it will be fine. I hope this helps

Heres the backdrop. Started at my highest 550lbs start of liquid diet may 1 i was 518lbs surgery date may 21 479lbs and today After not being able to weigh myself for 3 weeks (420 at the time, 05-18 )im now at 395. Im a very pessimistic guy when it comes to positive things happening to me and evn though i lost more than 100 lbs in a short time i still thought it just wouldnt work. But im believing now and eating healthier than ever lately, i havent started excercising yet but im starting to get some enrgy and im getting an itch too to get my weight loss on a fast track to 299. I just wanted to share !!!

Danielle. First of all, you have to do this for you. I watched you-tube videos over and over just so I can see what was going to happen. I was great and excited up until the day of surgery. I knew exactly what I was going to have done, what I had to do in order to make this work. Just remember.....it is a tool, the surgeon is doing surgery on your tummy not your brain, and lastly, they are making you a new "BABY" tummy. You have to start off with formula (liquid), then move to mushy food (baby food), and then graduate to each level just as a baby does. The tissues in your stomach are still able to stretch and bring you right back where you were from the start. It is up to you to make this work, not anyone else. Yes, we are here to give advice when needed or just to get some ideas as to what you can or cannot eat. What I have realized is that each state and each surgeon is different. I have also noticed on this site, people are sometimes judgmental and harsh. (Just let those go and focus on the positive) Here in CT, our surgeons have us for the first 2 weeks only 100% liquids, week 3-6 mushy food, 7wk plus you learn to eat smaller portions and in all...it does work, and you don't feel hungry. As for the loose skin. I would rather be a healthier weight then worry about my extra skin. Who cares, I know I don't. I didn't do this to worry about my skin. I wanted to become more healthier for my grand-daughter and daughters. Oh by the way, I will be 50 in May and I love my decision. Right now the only exercise I can do, per my APRN is walk at a fast pace. I go back on the 20th of this month and hopefully she will tell me I can do more extensive exercise. I have a year to make myself down to the wieght I want. (150 pounds and ( am 5'7). I am proud that you have made this decision to become healthier. Being you are only 24 is great that you realized your problem now than later. As for the pain, hunger, or any other problems after surgery, to each their own. I had Thrush for 2 weeks, my stomach hurt only when I swallowed, but it was because of the Thrush not the surgery. So I cannot eat 3 oz of food yet, my body will tell me when I am ready. Take your time and ENJOY this ride............................((((HUGGS))) Annamarie from Connecticut.

believe me, you aren't alone in the post-op sore and sorry stage! How are you doing now, since it has been a couple of days since you wrote this? My days 3-4 were ironically my worst. Now (starting my 3rd week today) you would never even know that I had surgery! Good luck with recovery. Cheers!

It is amazing how every body is different in the healing process. I was very fortunate in my recovery. I was off pain meds and back to work in 3 days. I am almost 7 weeks post op and I don't regret my wls decision. Just hang in there and you will start feeling better soon. Best of luck on your weight loss journey. May you have a happy and healthy new you in 2015!!

I wore a binder for about a week after surgery- it really helped keep me from moving in ways that would cause the incisions to hurt. I don't know if shapewear will help your body go back to where you want it. I bought some because some of my skin has gotten saggy as I've lost weight. I pretty much only wear it if I'm putting on something form-fitting. Krista

Im 2 weeks Monday and haven't lost another pound since 3 days ago. Really discouraging.

I'm one week post op and feeling pretty damn good! Five hours after surgery, me and my IV pole were walking around those hospital floors like there was no tomorrow. The only problem I'm having is gas... when I feel it coming, I get up and walk. Im able to get my protein in and those Popsicles have become my best friend. You can do this and all of us are here to help you!

I'm still a newbie. I'm only 6 weeks post-op. I haven't had any adverse reactions so far, other than my iron and vitamin d being low, but I had that issue before surgery, and nausea; the nausea is new, and it doesn't happen all the time. My advice to you would be to follow your doctor's plan. Get your protein in. Get your water in. There will be days that you don't want to, but you need to make yourself. You've got this!

It good that you ate going to reevaluate after you have surgery since there is no answer to this. One person may be okay while another, at a week out, may not be. Good luck to you!

7 days after surgery I still had a drain, find out if you will have a drain and for how long. I spent 5 days in the hospital and I know some people came home in one day. I had my drain taken out day 13. I took naps daily for the first 2 weeks. I'm 49 and I have Lupus but I also lost 70 pounds pre-surgery and I had a leg up on the weight loss. I have heard stories of women crying during dinner because they couldn't eat what everyone else is eating. Realize that your eating is going to be seriously different. From clears, full liquid, pureed, soft & regular. If you have been working on behavior modification pre-surgery that will probably be a piece of case for you, but for many people they really get depressed after surgery. Around day 9 it seems everything is much more emotional than before surgery. I would love to be a foster mom, mys on is 22 years old and I think what you are doing is wonderful. With that being said, you will have people say to you, oh yeah, no problem I did this that and the other after surgery. No two people are alike and you have no clue how you are going to be until after surgery. If you go into surgery with the right frame of mind and you are an upbeat and positive person, you will most likely do better, but complications do happen, people respond differently to different things. If these girls have been through a whole lot of stress prior, it could be hard on them, but if you have help for the first week they are there, and you can control your emotions when it comes to food and you don't have food mourning in front of them, you could do it. I think being a foster mom is a wonderful thing, and I wish you the best of luck and I'm not trying to scare you, I want you to be as informed as you can be. Again best of luck and I am looking forward to hearing good news after your surgery.

I cheated on Thanksgiving (and the day after) too. My mom made this divine pumpkin roll, and I had to have a slice--with whipped cream! With my family, Thanksgiving is a day long even with a buffet of subs, dips, chips, and Desserts before the actual Thanksgiving feast! I can't physically eat as much as I used to be able to (like everyone else here!), but I definitely "ate around my sleeve" by grazing. I feel guilty because I know better. I know that it's easy to gain back the weight if I don't watch myself. I just completely let go. And, it showed on the scale. I stalled- didn't gain any weight (luckily), but I didn't lose either. The important thing is to stop and get back on track. It's all too easy to slip back into old habits (which is why I cheated the day after on leftovers). We indulged on a holiday, but we learned from our mistakes. We can do this :smile1: